My Thoughts on Immigration

[ShamelessMcBundy]

So this morning over breakfast, my parents and I were watching a round table discussion on immigration in this country. I find it very sad that there are so many people in this country that are anti-immigrant. This country was founded on the concept of immigration. How many of us wouldn't even be here if it wasn't for immigration? My parents came to this country in the 70's, seeking not just a better life for themselves, but for their children. Nigh on 40 years later, I daresay, they have achieved the American Dream.

Since 1992, we have lived in a 4 bedroom, 2 story house. If that isn't the American Dream, I don't know what is. It took my parents decades to be able to get where they are, and I am immensely proud of them for truly realizing the American Dream. I can't imagine living anywhere else. This is my home. They are naturalized US citizens, and thanks to the 14th Amendment, I and my brothers, are US citizens by birth, and I wouldn't trade that for anything.

My parents have worked their asses off so we could have a better life than they did. And by any measure, we truly do have a better life than they have. I am so happy that my parents decided to come to California to settle down and strive for that American Dream.

This country, perhaps more than any other country, has been founded and grown on the concept of immigration. How quickly we all forget that the vast majority of us wouldn't be here if it wasn't for immigration, legal or other wise. This country has been made due to immigration. I certainly wouldn't be here if it wasn't for immigration.

It saddens me, and it breaks my heart that there are so many people in this country that are anti-immigration. Statistically-speaking, chances are, they wouldn't be here if it wasn't for immigration. So I apologize for perhaps rambling in my thoughts, but I have a few things to say: Thank you to my parents for deciding to come to the United States, so we could have a better life. Also, thank you to all those immigrants that are here, doing the shit us citizens simply don't want to do.

So I say, Welcome, immigrants. We are happy to have you!


So I ask you all, immigrants and not, what are your experiences in this melting pot of a country of ours?

 

[Canadave]

I'm a big supporter of very open immigration. Canada, much like the USA, has been built by immigrants, and the only way we'll continue to grow is by accepting more. I think we currently accept either the most or second-most immigrants per capita in the Western world (we're always flipping back and forth with Australia), and I think it makes the country stronger, both from an economic and a cultural point of view.

 

[Amaris]

I am all in favor of legal immigration. I'm also in favor of qualifying immigration. For example, if one immigrates to the U.S. illegally, and becomes a part of our culture (gets a job, raises a family, pays taxes, starts a business, stuff like that), then I believe they should be fast-tracked to legal status. That may not be completely open in every way, but I feel it's a fair balance.

 

[Roger Wilco]

but:

[yt]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=768h3Tz4Qik[/yt]

 

[Kestra]

I am all in favor of legal immigration. I'm also in favor of qualifying immigration. For example, if one immigrates to the U.S. illegally, and becomes a part of our culture (gets a job, raises a family, pays taxes, starts a business, stuff like that), then I believe they should be fast-tracked to legal status. That may not be completely open in every way, but I feel it's a fair balance.

I'm mostly in agreement here. I'm also very grateful that my parents were able to come to this country legally. We've had a good life here.

 

[ShamelessMcBundy]

My family has also had a great life here. I don't think we would have what we have here, had my parents decided to stay in Mexico. And that's not to say that they've had an easy life here, because they haven't. But my life, and the lives of my brothers, are easier because they are here, and they decided to raise their family here.

As an American citizen, I have rights and privileges that other immigrants that are not, do not have. And for that, I am thankful. I am thankful for my right to vote. And since i turned 18 in 2003, i have only missed 3 elections. All other times, i have voted. The right to vote is something that far too many people take for granted. I love a good election and vote whenever there is one.

 

[Deckerd]

In the UK the immigrants do all the jobs the indigenous population don't want to do. Nevertheless you get the Daily Fail chanting the same mantra as per South Park above. It was one of the reasons the Conservative government was voted in because people somehow believe immigrants are the source of every malady the country suffers. There has been a shift recently, however. It's no longer a hot topic while the Fail wrestles with the knotty problem of saying the London et al riots were the fault of black youths without actually saying it.

 

[Amaris]

I am all in favor of legal immigration. I'm also in favor of qualifying immigration. For example, if one immigrates to the U.S. illegally, and becomes a part of our culture (gets a job, raises a family, pays taxes, starts a business, stuff like that), then I believe they should be fast-tracked to legal status. That may not be completely open in every way, but I feel it's a fair balance.

I'm mostly in agreement here. I'm also very grateful that my parents were able to come to this country legally. We've had a good life here.

My family has also had a great life here. I don't think we would have what we have here, had my parents decided to stay in Mexico. And that's not to say that they've had an easy life here, because they haven't. But my life, and the life of my brothers, are easier because they are here, and they decided to raise their family here.

As an American citizen, I have rights and privileges that other immigrants that are not, do not have. And for that, I am thankful. I am thankful for my right to vote. And since i turned 18 in 2003, i have only missed 3 elections. All other times, i have voted. The right the vote is something that far too many people take for granted. I love a good election and vote whenever there is one.

So, if I may ask, you both feel that the U.S. is still the land of opportunity?

 

[Deckerd]

Scotland! Scotland is the land of opportunity! And rain.

 

[Amaris]

In the UK the immigrants do all the jobs the indigenous population don't want to do. Nevertheless you get the Daily Fail chanting the same mantra as per South Park above. It was one of the reasons the Conservative government was voted in because people somehow believe immigrants are the source of every malady the country suffers. There has been a shift recently, however. It's no longer a hot topic while the Fail wrestles with the knotty problem of saying the London et al riots were the fault of black youths without actually saying it.

That's how it is here in the U.S. When all else fails, blame it on immigrants.

 

[Kestra]

Absolutely, J.

 

[ShamelessMcBundy]

Yes, i do. My parents have shown that anyone, if they work hard enough, can make it. We live in a 2,400 square foot home in a suburb of Los Angeles, and have lived here for 19 years. My parents have made it. I firmly believe that anyone can make it here.

 

[Amaris]

Absolutely, J.

Yes, i do. My parents have shown that anyone, if they work hard enough, can make it. We live in a 2,400 square foot home in a suburb of Los Angeles, and have lived here for 19 years. My parents have made it. I firmly believe that anyone can make it here.

Interesting, and I mean that in a positive way. It pleases me to see that sentiment still exists. Much of my family has been here through many generations (most came over on ships like the Mayflower), and the majority of them carry the sentiment that not only is the U.S. not "what it once was" (whatever that means), but that immigrants are taking what we do have (which gives an idea of what the first statement means).

I, of course, totally disagree with this POV. I see the U.S. as being a great catalyst to prosperity and opportunity, and I like that for the two of you, and hopefully many other young generations, the U.S. still represents that shining beacon of the goodness indwelt by it's humble foundations, ones that started when the first immigrants came to it's shores. That's not my attempt at sounding nationalistic, because there are many magnificent countries around the world, but just that I feel the U.S. isn't beat yet, we're not down for the count, and we're not finished.

There is still much life in this young girl, and that it will be the combined energy of not only our generation, but of the people and the cultures who come to our harbors and across our borders, who foster future generations, to continue that opportunity for greater prosperity.

Thank you both for answering, I appreciate it and as I said, I am heartened that optimism still shines here.

 

[ShamelessMcBundy]

It seems to be that roughly every 100 years or so, anti-immigration in this country seems to come in waves. One hundred years ago, it was against Asians and Eastern Europeans. Now, it's against Hispanics. And it's sad, since Hispanics are the largest minority, and are expected to be the majority by 2050.

We must remember that we were founded on immigration and we should remember the words on the Statue of Liberty:

"Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me,
I lift my lamp beside the golden door!"

Most of us came from there, and we should not forget that. And surely, my parents came here so they can indeed "breathe free."

 

[Canadave]

I am all in favor of legal immigration. I'm also in favor of qualifying immigration. For example, if one immigrates to the U.S. illegally, and becomes a part of our culture (gets a job, raises a family, pays taxes, starts a business, stuff like that), then I believe they should be fast-tracked to legal status. That may not be completely open in every way, but I feel it's a fair balance.

I tend to agree with this. I don't think it makes much sense to waste resources deporting people; just make 'em legal. That way, they pay taxes into the country, and can take advantage of social services.

 

[Sean Aaron]

I'm an immigrant (to Scotland) and I find Glasgow very multicultural and quite enjoy it.

 

[Roger Wilco]

It seems to be that roughly every 100 years or so, anti-immigration in this country seems to come in waves. One hundred years ago, it was against Asians and Eastern Europeans. Now, it's against Hispanics. And it's sad, since Hispanics are the largest minority, and are expected to be the majority by 2050.

I don't think it's waves, I think it's a constant. Some people just have a mentality of, like, imagine a subway during rush hour "I want inside, but once I'm in nobody else should be allowed to enter anymore". Racism probably plays a little part in this (I would think, if Icelanders were currently the biggest group of immigrants to the USA, hostility towards them would be mild at most), but generally it's an attitude of "I've got mine, fuck you" that's seperate from ethnicity I think. Often recent immigrants are the ones who are most angry at the new immigrants imo.

 

[Mr Silver]

Immigration is key to diversity. But some people ruin it by taking the piss and this leads to the media branding immigrants as lazy or taking advantage.

In the UK, we have a large population of Polish immigrants. Despite what many people think, these people are hard workers who don't complain at whatever mundane job they get. They are happy to get the work and despite people saying that "they take all the jobs", it's likely because we refuse to do them.

 

[RJDiogenes]

One of the things that makes America one of the greatest (if not the greatest) civilizations in history is that it is multicultural and multi-ethnic. "American" is not an ethnicity. Everybody came from somewhere else-- either personally or in their family's history-- and brought a little bit of that with them. I have several friends who immigrated from other parts of the world-- Thailand, Vietnam, Saint Vincent-- and when they became citizens, they became just as much Americans as I am, who was born here.

The problem is, of course, illegal immigration. Nobody should be allowed to cut in line. Not only does this hurt the people who are willing to go through proper channels, but it provides exploitable slave labor for unscrupulous businesses.

 

[Roger Wilco]

The problem is, of course, illegal immigration. Nobody should be allowed to cut in line. Not only does this hurt the people who are willing to go through proper channels, but it provides exploitable slave labor for unscrupulous businesses.

It's not that simple. Imo migration is a force of nature, the wish to improve your life and your childrens' is unstoppable. If there's too much illegal immigration, than the reason is that laws controlling legal immigration are too tight, which unnecessarily criminalises and marginalises people who don't have a criminal bone in their body.